The Opposition Congress in Manipur on Tuesday condemned the ED summons issued to state unit president K. Meghachandra Singh for his personal appearance in Delhi on Monday, describing the action as “politics of vendetta”.

Senior MPCC spokesperson N. Bupenda Meitei told journalists in Imphal on Tuesday that the state Congress chief had been speaking out “fearlessly and aggressively against the double engine BJP governments, at the Centre and in the state” since the ethnic conflict in the state erupted on May 3, 2023. The BJP is in power in the state since 2017.

“This (summons) action is nothing but the politics of vendetta, vengeance, harassment and revenge. This action is to cover up the Union government’s colossal failures in the state, which has been reflected in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s refusal to visit the state since it blew up 17 months back. Those, who are afraid, are intimidated. The Congress will never be silenced,” Meitei said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not visited the strife-hit state since the ethnic conflict began on May 3, 2023, leaving at least 237 dead and over 60,000 displaced.

Meghachandra on Monday said he was summoned by the ED at 10.30am on October 7 in connection with an ongoing probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 but he could not attend because of the short notice.

Sources said Meghachandra through an e-mail has sought 10 days to appear before the ED in Delhi. Meghachandra could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.